Pressure overload and other stress stimuli elicit a host of adaptive and maladaptive signaling cascades that eventually lead to cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Among those, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway has been shown to play a prominent role. The dual specificity phosphatases (DUSPs), also known as MAPK specific phosphatases (MKPs), that can dephosphorylate the MAPKs and inactivate them are gaining increasing attention as potential drug targets. Here we try to review recent advancements in understanding the roles of the different DUSPs, and the pathways that they regulate in cardiac remodeling. We focus on the regulation of three main MAPK branches - the p38 kinases, the c-Jun-N-terminal kinases (JNKs) and the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) by various DUSPs and try to examine their roles.Lycopene has a wide range of biological functions, especially its antioxidant capacity. However, effects of lycopene on muscle fatigue resistant and muscle fiber type conversion are unknown. In this study, we found that lycopene significantly prolonged the swimming time to exhaustion in mice. We also showed that lycopene increased the proportion of slow-twitch muscle fiber by promoting muscle fiber type conversion from fast-twitch to slow-twitch in mice and in C2C12 myotubes. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling was activated by lycopene. AMPK upstream and downstream regulators including nuclear respiratory factor 1, calcium calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase-β, sirtuin 1 and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ coactivator-1? were also increased by lycopene. AMPK inhibitor compound C markedly attenuated the lycopene-induced skeletal muscle fiber type conversion in C2C12 myotubes. Taken together, we provided the first evidence that lycopene increases the proportion of slow-twitch muscle fiber through AMPK signaling pathway to improve fatigue resistant of skeletal muscle.All animals must move efficiently throughout their world. However, the mechanisms through which they accomplish this potentially vary among species. Previous work exploring the use of feature information and geometric information in movement through space has indicated that geometric information is commonly used and that some species sometimes also use feature information. Here, I investigated if a cold-blooded species, leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius), would use geometric and/or feature information. In training, geckos learned to move to a correct corner within the box with a distinctive feature. In test when only geometric information was available, geckos chose either their assigned corner or its geometric opposite. In another test when feature information conflicted with geometric information, geckos did not use feature information and instead made choices consistent with using geometric information. This suggests geckos used geometric information preferentially to feature information in this experiment after both had been available throughout training when they were placed in conflict.To assess the impact of restricting systematic reviews of conventional or alternative medical treatments or diagnostic tests to English-language publications.
We systematically searched MEDLINE (Ovid), the Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science), and Current Contents Connect (Web of Science) up to April 24, 2020. Eligible methods studies assessed the impact of restricting systematic reviews to English-language publications on effect estimates and conclusions. Two reviewers independently screened the literature; one investigator performed the data extraction, a second investigator checked for completeness and accuracy. We synthesized the findings narratively.
Eight methods studies (10 publications) met the inclusion criteria; none addressed language restrictions in diagnostic test accuracy reviews. The included studies analyzed nine to 147 meta-analyses and/or systematic reviews. The proportions of non-English-language publications ranged from 2% to 100%. Based on five methods studies, restricting literature searches or inclusion criteria to English-language publications led to a change in statistical significance in 23/259 meta-analyses (9%). https://www.selleckchem.com/products/n6f11.html Most commonly, the statistical significance was lost, but had no impact on the conclusions of systematic reviews.
Restricting systematic reviews to English-language publications appears to have little impact on the effect estimates and conclusions of systematic reviews.
Restricting systematic reviews to English-language publications appears to have little impact on the effect estimates and conclusions of systematic reviews.Age-related cognitive decline is a pervasive problem in the ageing population. Baduanjin training is a mind-body exercise with the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine, and increasing numbers of studies have reported its usefulness in modulating the cognitive performance of various populations. However, no systematic review has evaluated the effect of Baduanjin training on cognition in middle-aged and older adults.
To systematically evaluate the effects of Baduanjin on the global cognitive function and specific cognitive domains of middle-aged and elderly people.
Four literature databases (PubMed, Cochrane library, EMBASE, and Web of Science) and four Chinese databases (Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical and China Biology Medicine) were searched from inception through May 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effect of Baduanjin exercise on the cognitive function of middle-aged and elderly people were included. Assessme conclusions can be drawn.
The findings of this review suggest that Baduanjin is safe and effective in enhancing global cognitive function and memory in middle-aged and older adults and potentially beneficial to parts of the other specific domains of cognition, including executive function and processing speed. However, additional trials with larger sample sizes and a more rigorous design are needed before more definitive conclusions can be drawn.